In the middle of the night, as families were sound asleep in their homes, muddy waters quietly seeped through their houses, entering every room and space, rousing others to experience the worst night of their lives. As they scampered dazedly to hold on to their loved ones, the rushing waters that seemed to come from nowhere relentlessly swept away the ones who were unable to brace themselves from the rage of the rushing waters.
The lucky ones who were able to cling to safety witnessed the horror in front of them and heard the pitiful wails of those who were drowning fast. Inside some of the homes, people opened their rooms to be met by rushing waters instantly converting their rooms to large aquariums of muddy waters drowning adults and children.
The many who were fortunate to have reached higher grounds watched helplessly as whole houses were swept and flailing bodies passed by. In an instant, the once calm neighborhood was turned into a huge sea of destruction as massive logs slammed houses, vehicles, and knocking people out of their consciousness.
The worst of their fears was confirmed on the daybreak of December 17, 2011. As the flood slowly receded, the image that welcomed them was incomprehensible. The nightmare just a few hours back left so much devastation, so much shock, and so much grief.
People were missing, fathers and mothers clutching their children in tight embrace found dead, vehicles new and old overturned and buried in mud, animals and livestock dead, 2-story houses filled with mud, light houses completely gone, even concrete houses were not spared. The scene and imagery was total chaos as cries for missing loved ones filled the streets.
As survivors were rescued afloat at sea or perched on trees and rooftops, dead bodies equally increased in numbers day after day. The number of missing persons also increased. A week later, more lifeless bodies were found, crushing the hopes of those who believed that their loved ones are still alive.
The catastrophe was blamed mostly on illegal logging. The denuded watersheds feed the major rivers that overflowed enormously on the midnight of December 16. With the heavy rains brought by typhoon Sendong, the raging waters with debris and logs rushed down destroying villages and properties, killing people and livestock.
Man’s improper use and abuse of nature’s bounty ricocheted and as always in such magnitude that it seemed incomprehensible. Man’s sheer stubbornness to heed warnings of possible catastrophe resulted to the loss of lives, many of whom were innocent children. Twenty years ago, it was Ormoc, but people seemed to forget the grief and sorrow of dead bodies piled in dump trucks as Leyte experienced its worst floods.
As Cagayan de Oro and Iligan experienced its share of grief, many remembered Ormoc but were the lessons learned? Where will be the next showcase of nature’s fury?
WHAT YOU TOLD US